Erdogan and Scholz Discuss Defence, Trade, and Regional Conflict in Istanbul

Istanbul, The Gulf Observer: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reaffirmed the strength of Türkiye’s ties with Germany, its NATO ally, across various sectors, while expressing a mutual commitment to resolving issues surrounding the supply of defence industry products.

Speaking at a press conference alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Istanbul, Erdogan underscored Türkiye’s desire to overcome past obstacles regarding the purchase of defence equipment and to strengthen cooperation. “We wish to leave behind the problems we have encountered before in purchasing defence industry products and enhance our cooperation,” Erdogan said following their high-level talks.

Germany has given initial approval for the sale of 40 Eurofighter jets to Türkiye, though final confirmation is still pending. Chancellor Scholz emphasized Germany’s dedication to supporting its NATO partners, stating, “Türkiye is a NATO ally, and accordingly, we are making decisions that will lead to concrete deliveries. We have made such decisions recently, and more will follow.”

President Erdogan also highlighted the robust bilateral trade relationship between the two countries, which currently stands at $50 billion, with the goal of reaching $60 billion. He noted that updating the EU customs union and liberalising visa regimes would be “of utmost benefit for all parties.”

In their discussions, the two leaders also addressed security issues, particularly terrorism. Erdogan stressed the need for joint efforts in combating terrorist organisations like the PKK and FETO, which he said threaten public security in Germany. “The PKK and FETO are at the forefront of promoting anti-Muslim sentiments in Germany,” Erdogan warned.

Chancellor Scholz also spoke on rising far-right extremism in Germany, condemning all forms of exclusion, including antisemitism and Islamophobia.

The escalating Israeli-Palestinian conflict was another critical topic in their talks. President Erdogan expressed concerns about the ongoing Israeli military operations, warning that the conflict, which has spread to Lebanon, risks further destabilisation in the region. He criticised Israel for its “ruthless massacres” and accused the West of silence in the face of these actions.

Erdogan pointed to Türkiye’s participation in a lawsuit filed by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention. Chancellor Scholz, while supporting a two-state solution, reiterated Germany’s call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza but refrained from supporting accusations of genocide against Israel.

“Israel has the right to defend itself, but it must comply with international law. This is fundamental to Germany’s foreign policy,” Scholz noted.

The talks reflected both cooperation and divergence, with the leaders agreeing to continue dialogue on critical issues impacting their nations and the broader region.